Where to travel in BENELUX

Oh BENELUX, how I love to travel around and see the sights! Benelux is the fun amalgamation of Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg and has some many things to see.

Having Brussels, the capital of Belgium, as my base was amazing because it's situated so nicely between lots of countries with easy access by trains (including high-speed), long distance buses, and cheap flights. When I lived in Brussels from 2012-2014 I was deemed a 'youth traveler' (ages 18-25) which was gave me loads of discounts for everything from trains, museums, and even some hostels stays. This distinction was perfect for my meager au pair monthly stipend and later as a masters student who worked part time.

I used part of my weekends to have day trips all over the Benelux area by train.

It was thrilling fun to jump onto random trains around Belgium with my Belgian Youth Train travel card. When I hopped on a train, I would write in my starting station (Bruxelles Nord, Gare Centrale, Gare du Midi) and my final destination within Belgium with the day's date to be stamped by the train attendant. It was cute to write this in and it was €5 for each ride...think it's €7.50 now. I ended my time in Belgium with five or six of these filled out cards. Cities outside of Belgium need a different ticket which can be purchased online or bought directly at the train station. Prices ranged from €10-20 each way.

Top Belgian day trips from Brussels

• Ghent - The cutest town ever: wander the town, get a trappist beer

• Antwerp - Belgium's second city: great for shopping, Peter Paul Ruebens, Flemish life, get a Stella Artois

• Bruges - Quaintness overload: canal boat ride, wander, ride bike to small village: Damme, get a trappist beer

• Dinant - Adorable small town: hike the citadel, flamiche (kind of like quiche), get a Leffe beer

• Ypres - Somber: big battle area during WWI, historical cemeteries, get a trappist beer

• Leuven - College town: fun to wander around KU Leuven campus, get a Jupiler beer

• Knokke/Ostende/De Haan - Beach town life: great in all seasons, get a framboise beer

• Mechelen - Suburb of Brussels: .big church, get a trappist beer

• Binche - Carnaval town: big celebration for Mardi Gras, will be cold, get a beer or 5

• Sint Nikkolas - Random decision: big square, don't remember much else, get a trappist beer

Top Netherlands day trips (can be made into overnight trips) from Brussels

• Lisse - Tulip Field Land: rent a bike and see all of the fields for as far at the eye can see in late April!

• Maastrict - Fun Centre: Bookstore Dominicanen, wander about town, get a beer

• Utrecht - Quieter version of Amsterdam: wander canals, get a beer

• Rotterdam - City of the Future: cool architecture, windmills, get a beer

• Amsterdam - Venice of the North: canals, all the museums, getting lost, nightlife, get a beer

Top German and Luxembourg day trips from Brussels

• Aachen, Germany - Christmas Market Town: Christmas time charm in December, get gluhwein

• Koln/Cologne - Big Church: See the church, wander about town, good nightlife, get a beer

• Luxembourg City - Tax Haven: get all of your goodies at cheaper prices, get a beer